Q&A: Tom Chilton

Despite his relative youth, former British and current World Touring Car Championship front runner, Tom Chilton has been racing saloon cars since 1999, at a tender age of 14, and now, at 28, is in his second year in the FIA WTCC driving a Chevrolet Cruze for RML.

Chilton took time out from his busy schedule with his circuit experience company 'Hot Laps' to speak exclusively to Dexter Fielding about his career in motorsport...

Q:If things hadn't worked out as a racing driver, what career path would you have taken instead?

Tom Chilton:Now there's the 'million dollar question.' Other things that I was good at include playing the Saxophone or maybe even training to be a carpenter – I was always very good with my hands!

So, probably one of those two things - quite diverse and very different. I might even have become a gardener, I've got it in my blood, but I don't know. I'd rather play the sax or be a carpenter over a gardener.

Q:How did you become a racing driver? What was your first involvement in motorsport?

Tom Chilton:My Dad was a massive motorsport nut but, when I was about eight years old he and about three of his mates bought failed Ford Escort Mk2's for £75 each and they would race eachother every weekend.

It got to the point where at eight-and-a-half years old he said 'come on Tom, do you want a go?' So to make it a bit of a competition, I would race their wives and while doing that I was power-sliding and drifting from a young age, that is where it all kicked-off for me really.

Q:Growing up, who were your racing heroes?

Tom Chilton:I was at the age when Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell where winning every weekend when I watched on the TV, so probably those guys, but when I started racing professionally, Michael Schumacher was the fastest, so I thought he was the best.

Q:You have been able to race many different cars over the last 12-13 years. What has been your favourite or most satisfying car to drive?

Tom Chilton:The Chevrolet Cruze I currently race has to be the best touring car I've ever driven, just in terms of the development that it has had. Over a six year period it has had four very good drivers pass through it in the development stages. It is the most sophisticated car I've ever driven.

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